National Republican., 1887-04-04
RAILROAD COMPLAINTS.
A Change Disastrous to All the Busl-
neas Intereata,


The interstate commission met on satur-
day morning at II o'clock ana proceeded at
once to business. The first move was to
give hearing TO committee from the At
lanta chamber Of commerce, the members
OF which were ex-Gov. Rufus b. Bullock,
DR.. r. ID. Spaulding, and Mr.. 8. +. Wood
son. Their instructions are ITO cooperate
with the Southern Railway and Steamship
Association In seeking such liberal inter
probation or modification Of the operation
OF the interstate commerce act as may be
deemed necessary for the protection Of the
manufacturing and commercial interests of
this and other southern organizations.n
Governor Bullock, as chairman OF the
committee, said they wers grateful to the
commission for the early confederation that
had been granted them. He then read the
appeal OF the chamber, which showed that
q sudden change OF rates would work disas-
trously TO all business interests, and that
transportation would be much more ex-
penslve under the law. The hearing was
entirely informal, and there can be no de-
cision promulgated by the commission until
the 9th instant, when the law goes into
effect.
singular feature In regard to the pres
ence Of the Atlanta committee before the
commission is that when the Interstate bill
was up for consideration the Atlanta cham
Der OF commerce was the first to petition
for Its passage, and now the secretary Of
that body says: "a strict Interpretation OF
the law will be disastrous to all interior
southern points. Full rates on southern
goods sent north will be prohibitory."
At o'clock recess was taken and the
commission did not reassemble until Q,
when Mr.. NJ. II. Smith, president OF the
Louisville and Nashville railroad, aud Mr..
James r. Ogden, commissioner OF the
Southern Railroad Association, were given
a hearing. Mr.. Smith, as spokesman, made
lengthy argument, In which he called
attention to the water competition to be
met by the southern lines, and contended
that the rates fixed by his road were not In
violation OF law. IL prohibited from
charging lees for q longer distance than for
shorter, where the conditions are sub
stantially similar, then, he argued, they
were authorized to charge less for longer
than ,borter distance, where the condi-
tions are substantially dissimilar, provided
the rates tou and from non competitive
points are just and reasonable.
He said that the northern roads put DIFF.
ferent Interpretation on the law, and that
traffic would cease between tho north and
south unless decision on this point was
made. He did not believe there was any
reason for the present agitation, for surely
carriers could not be punished for viola
tion Of law they could not understand.
Gen. Alexander, president Of the Central
Georgia road, said his road gave lower rates
to Macon and Montgomery than to Mobile
and New Orleans because there was water
competition to the former points.
The counsel for tine East Tennessee, Vir-
ginia and Georgia railroad, Mr.. Edgar M.
johnson, said that commerce between the
north and south would practically close on
the 9Th instant
Mr.. Henry Fink, vice president of the
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia rail-
road, said that rigid construction Of the
long and short haul clause meant bank
ruptcy.
The first comptroller has decided that the
contingent fund Of the Interior Depart
ment cannot be used by the interstate COM
mission to eke out the niGgardly appropria-
ton Of 100000 made by Congress, and
from which the commissioners salaries,
clerk hire,Iofilce rent, transportation, &C.,
must be paid. The commissioners will
either have to 20 without their salaries or
pile up deficiency account for Congress
to pay.